Illinois Republican chairman Pat Brady expected to resign Tuesday
Mon. May 6, 2013 10:10 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Springfield, IL -
Illinois Republican Chairman Pat Brady is expected to resign Tuesday following several unsuccessful attempts to oust him as party chairman over his support for same-sex marriage.
Brady is telling people tonight that he plans to resign Tuesday, according to the Chicago Tribune
"Under Pat Brady's leadership, the Republican Party has stayed focused on its core value: that government should respect people's private lives. And I am proud of his support of the freedom to marry," Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov told ChicagoPride.com.
Conservative members of the state Republican Party, lead by anti-gay state Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove), have been trying since January to remove Brady as party chairman after he voiced his support for same-sex marriage legislation.
Top GOP officials, including former Republican Govs. Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, House Republican Leader Tom Cross and U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Illinois), have sounded support for Brady and agreed that the party should be more inclusive.
"I hope that even after his departure, the party leaders continue that support for the freedom to marry - or else it's going to be irrelevant for the future generation of voters," said Cherkasov.
On April 7, state Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. (R-Mundelein) announced his support of a marriage equality bill which awaits a vote in the Illinois House. Sullivan becomes the second House Republican to support the legislation after state Rep. Ron Sandack (R-Downer's Grove) announced his support.
The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act passed the House Executive Committee in a narrow 6-5 vote Feb. 26, and the full state Senate Feb. 14. A full House vote is the final hurdle before the measure reaches Gov. Pat Quinn.
Supporters of the bill say a House vote could come this week as they are closing in on the 60 votes needed for approval.
Follow ChicagoPride.com on Twitter (@GoPride) and Facebook for breaking developments.
Brady is telling people tonight that he plans to resign Tuesday, according to the Chicago Tribune
"Under Pat Brady's leadership, the Republican Party has stayed focused on its core value: that government should respect people's private lives. And I am proud of his support of the freedom to marry," Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov told ChicagoPride.com.
Conservative members of the state Republican Party, lead by anti-gay state Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove), have been trying since January to remove Brady as party chairman after he voiced his support for same-sex marriage legislation.
Top GOP officials, including former Republican Govs. Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, House Republican Leader Tom Cross and U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Illinois), have sounded support for Brady and agreed that the party should be more inclusive.
"I hope that even after his departure, the party leaders continue that support for the freedom to marry - or else it's going to be irrelevant for the future generation of voters," said Cherkasov.
On April 7, state Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. (R-Mundelein) announced his support of a marriage equality bill which awaits a vote in the Illinois House. Sullivan becomes the second House Republican to support the legislation after state Rep. Ron Sandack (R-Downer's Grove) announced his support.
The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act passed the House Executive Committee in a narrow 6-5 vote Feb. 26, and the full state Senate Feb. 14. A full House vote is the final hurdle before the measure reaches Gov. Pat Quinn.
Supporters of the bill say a House vote could come this week as they are closing in on the 60 votes needed for approval.
Follow ChicagoPride.com on Twitter (@GoPride) and Facebook for breaking developments.